Elber

"Dreams"


The poem "Dreams" was written in 1926 by Langston Hughes during the Harlem Renaissance ,a time in which was a movement of African American artists toward recognition of art. Langston Hughes tried to inspire people with his words because the Renaissance was a time of awakening in which the African American culture tried to flourish in the United States even though there was still segregation and a certain level of discrimination towards blacks in America. In this poem Hughes encourages people to carry on in life and let their dreams guide them because if they don't then their life is lost. ("Langston Hughes" Wikipedia)


"Dreams"
-Langston Hughes

DSC00272.JPGHold fast to dreams For if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams go
Life is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.

Other Poems by Langston Hughes


Analysis

This poem is one of hope. It tells the reader that in order to to succeed in life they have to follow their dreams and to hold on to them. The poem stresses the importance that dreams have in life because they are what set our goals and drive us, " Goals are dreams with deadlines" (Diana Scharf Hunt). Without dreams then life cannot carry on as well as it could before; there would still be life, but it wouldn't have the same meaning and significance as before. Without goals, you have nowhere to aim for and if you aim at nothing then that's what you become. In life it is normally the people with their dreams in sight that achieve them.


Bibliography

"Dreams by Langston Hughes."Poem Hunter.com.13 May 2009. <http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dreams-2/>

"Harlem Renaissance." Wikipedia:The Free Encyclopedia. 14 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Renaissance>

"Langston Hughes." Wikipedia:The Free Encyclopedia. 13 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes>